WASHINGTON: US House Speaker Mike Johnson has said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky needs to “come to his senses” and show gratitude or “someone else needs to lead the country.”
His remarks came after the Ukrainian President had a tense meeting with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the White House on Friday.
“President Trump is trying to get these two parties to a point of peace,” Johnson said in an interview on NBC News.
He added that Trump has made it clear if Zelensky is ready for peace, a deal can be negotiated. But, he said, what Zelenskyy did in the White House was a “signal to us that he’s not ready for that yet.”
Johnson went on to say Zelensky “berated and interrupted his host, instead of expressing gratitude for the extraordinary help that the US has provided his country.”
He said the mineral rights deal that was supposed to be signed between the US and Ukraine, benefits everyone, providing access to rare earth minerals and security for Ukraine. He said it established an economic partnership, ensuring the US defence of its interests.
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Friday’s White House meeting turned confrontational when Zelensky questioned whether Washington’s discussions with Moscow could lead to peace in Ukraine. Trump and Vance subsequently criticised Zelensky, accusing him of not showing enough gratitude to the US.
“You’re gambling with World War III,” Trump said. “And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country — this country.”
US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has also said that the Ukrainian leader “either needs to resign or send somebody over that we can do business with.”
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a pause on all of the country’s cyber operations against Russia, including offensive actions, multiple US media reports said on Sunday.
According to CBS News, multiple US officials told the news outlet that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued a directive to US Cyber Command to pause planning against Russia, including offensive digital actions.
